|
Published: April 27, 2008 01:06 am
NFL DRAFT: Bills go to corner
Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin is the Buffalo Bills top draft pick
By Jay Skurski
E-mail Jay
Greater Niagara Newspapers
ORCHARD PARK — Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Leodis McKelvin.
The Buffalo Bills made McKelvin, a cornerback from Troy who doubles as an electrifying return man, their first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft on Saturday, 11th overall.
They also felt lucky to get him.
“We certainly felt there was a good chance that he was not going to be there when we were up at 11,” Bills Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon said.
McKelvin tied the NCAA Division I-A career record with eight kicks returned for touchdowns. But the Bills see more out of a player who many draft experts viewed as a Top-10 pick.
“From a talent aspect, he’s a terrific athlete who will give you corner support and he has excellent cover skills,” Bills Vice President of College Scouting Tom Modrak said.
McKelvin hails from Waycross, Ga., where he starred for Ware County High School. Academic issues kept him from bigger football schools, but he found a home at Troy, a Sun Belt Conference school that in recent years has produced New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora and Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
It’s expected McKelvin will challenge for a starting spot opposite Terrence McGee early in the season.
“I’m going to come in and make the team a lot better,” he said on a conference call with the Western New York media.
McKelvin, who checks in at 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, speed similar to Bills receiver Lee Evans.
“He’s a tough corner and he competes,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said of McKelvin. “He’ll compete in the run game also. He’ll tackle. That’s important to us and any other team, too. They’ll force the corner to tackle in this league.”
With Troy last season McKelvin registered 50 solo tackles, two interceptions, three fumbles and nine deflected passes. He was the first cornerback taken in a draft which flew by compared to years past. The NFL’s decision to cut the amount of time for first-round picks from 15 minutes to 10 proved a success.
For more on the first day of the draft, including where the Bills decided to go in Round 2, see sports, page 1B.
Contact reporter Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.
|
|
|
|
 |
Retail
Spherion
Open Positions!
Retail Sales &
Cleaners Needed!
Meet Our Recruiter:
***Monday 7/6***...>MORE
Medical Office Assistant
MED. OFFICE ASST, PT, exp pref but not necessary, Med-Dent know- ledge helpful. Email resume to: mary paones sa@yahoo.c...>MORE
School District Treasurer
IMMEDIATE Opening - School District Treasurer. Degree in accounting and experience required. Supervisor skills a must. S...>MORE
Accounts Payable
Accounts Payable
Must be experienced. Must have excel/keypunch knowledge. Must be a team player. High volume enviro...>MORE
CLEANERS
Housekeeping, Summer/ permanent help, p/t-4 day work wk, no w/e, bonuses, car nec. 694-2810 ...>MORE
Cooks
COOKS, Servers, part time. Apply within Joe’s Hideaway, 2230 Cayuga Dr. Ext., Whtfld 990-1261...>MORE
Occupational Therapist
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. Full-time day position. NYS license and registration required. Send resume or apply: Employment ...>MORE
Nurses
NURSES
RNs & LPNs
We have assignments available in home care
& staffing.
Interim Health Care...>MORE
LPN's / GPN's
LPN’s / GPN’s - Northgate HCF, a busy long term and rehab facility currently has PT/FT positions available on 2nd and 3r...>MORE
Lead Carpenter
LEAD Carpenter for Pole barn builder/steel roofing company Exp. req. Call 716-438-7720....>MORE
See all ads |
Dodge 1996 Grand Caravan
Niagara Falls
2753 NIAGARA ST.
FRI. SAT.
9AM-4PM
oriental rug, old tools, antique car parts, toys, ...>MORE
1994 Pontiac Sunbird
PONTIAC 1994 Sunbird conv. V6, EC in & out, red w/blk top, wht int., CD, real sharp. $2850. 523-7102...>MORE
1990 Chevy 2500
1990 CHEVY 2500 pick up, fresh paint, 160k mi, good runner, 4WD, ext cab, $2500, 716-572-9153...>MORE
2000 Chevy S-10
CHEVY 2000 S-10 pick up, 2.2L, 5 spd, ext cab, EC in & out, CD, cold AC, great gas mi. $2750. 523-7102...>MORE
Audi 1998 A6 Sedan
Audi 1998 A6 Sedan with 160k miles. Charcoal ext., Tan int., 4DR, Automatic, AWD, 6 Cylinder, Gas engine. Pow...>MORE
Chevrolet 2002 Cavalier
CHEVROLET 2002 CAVALIER with 80,00 miles. Must see! Well maintained! Silver ext., Gray int., 2DR, Automatic, Fro...>MORE
Ford 1999 150 Truck
FORD 1999 150 pickup, good cond., tool box, bedliner, standard, $2500 or BO. 523-3653...>MORE
Ford 1993 Taurus
FORD 1993 Taurus, just inspected, runs good $900 or best offer,
284-0244...>MORE
Dodge 2001 SLT
‘O1 DODGE SLT, 8’ bed, cap, spray line, low miles. Never seen winters, $7,300. 998-0230...>MORE
1994 Buick Roadmaster Wagon
BUICK 1994 Roadmaster Estate Wagon, V8, 130k, fair condition, 1 owner. $2800 or BO. 297-1061....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
